Casing head



Patented Jan. 25, 1949 UNITED 12,460,238 "CASINGIHEAID e-Arthurll loenick, Houston, 'liex assignor 110L011 Center .=,To'o1,C.ompany, Houstonh'Ie a 0.9159

ration of Texas -Application September 18,21944pSerial=Nog55693 2* Claims. 1

';'Ihis.1invention relates: to; a:- casing head.

iThe inventiontherein: disclosed embodies said eimprovementssover thatztype "of v casing: he ad :.dis- :closed; ill'j'COPBIldiIlg application for; casing, head "ifiled'z in? the .United States PatentOfiiceiJune.116, .1944 under.:-;Serial No. 540,683, now;PatentNo. 523400254; granted:May;-14,z'l946.

An object of ithei-inventionis .to provldea' head foroilwellsmhieh :includeslnovel'means for 'iormring ::a v:"lfluid-tight seal i between it :7 andiz an inner cpipelthroughthehead.

rwAnotheriobjectrof itheiinventioniis to provide, a ewellhead of :the charactenidescribed of such con- :struction that leakage mof the'fifluida under pres- :izsurenambe readily detected.

rlty-iszarfurither. object of the invention tor-providegin a well head,- a novel typeohsealing gasket b'etween the -head sections 7-: that -wi1l ibe very efficientinpreventingieakage.

eWith the: above and other objects in 'view the ainvention has particular relation to certain novel fieatures of construction;- operationand arrangeement of parts,-'- an exampleof which'is g-iveninthis nspec'ifieation: andil-lustrated in the-accompanying drawings wherein:

2 Figure lshows aside e1evation of-the head,

partly in section Figure 2 shows: a fragmentary side view; partly in section, showing the seal-betweenthe-head :seotionsbeforepressureisapplied thereto.

.-Figure L 3 sshows a iside 1 view,-.shownpartly: -in useotion, taken. at right-angles to the view shown in Figure 1, and

.:;-Eigure- 4. shows-a fragmentary-side-elevation showingethev-seal between the =hBadcgS8Cti0llS: after said sections are bolted togetheriandithe pressure ads/applied to the seal.

.zzrReferring now: more particularlyto the drawings :lwherein'ilike numerals of refereneewdesignate the z sa-me. parts in each of the"figures, 'the-numeral I; de'signates' thelower section 1 of the "casing head, whose lower end --is internally threaded to" be ="=screwed onto the upper endof the=-well'-casing. -Its upper end isprovided with adownwa-rdlyconverging inside seat 2, and beneathsaid seat-the. lower section I 'has "10116" or 'more-interna lly "threaded: outlets 3,-'"for" the-*connection of outlet '-="-pipes"thereto.

'?The upper end, of-the: section I, has the external, annularfiange 4'thereon.

The numeral 5 designates the upper section of theticasinhheadz whose lower end is formed with an external, annular, flange 6, which coincides with the flange 4. 'I-heseI fianges'rhaveI coinciding,

annular grooves I and 8, to receive the annular-' eeealrrmewa. :E is hea er na is i rme t ih *.I"m t-x$. 9 $5 ;fii fi u a vwh nw t flan es-ra -4lo i tedzineeth li y t 'b i el t sise rin -v 9 iiorm sea s w th heoove aln ito rreye 5 leakage ;I lowe ver the sea1 rin g pr gaslget ll will -:6VQI Y:6Qr Z9 e; -9%1 i he-flui th w'e p essur qjespa ;,...In;o td n.t z ro wtt ,esealn :aedr rev ntl aka e-th o .vins d rin I I an J Zrhaw b e rr vide 1o st 1H ha -1 ar refe a l t rme w z'eiQ ;rne, tal, such. as lead. gflhey are fitte one around enditheeothe w thi -zi ie II and'IZ has the concavecl; gnoovestherearound 3in. the gupper and eunder iacesrthereof, as shown is ineliii ure-z. Wh nthe flanges-lan 6 reaw t eeth wbm h ilbo t flirs re i S at-th urine 9 ;closely ;in;;grooyes Land; 8,; the rings II ,and lz .Will the subjected 3130 ,;cornpression, causing the -n aterial .thereof adjacentthe-cring to flow .-into 2ov the;..eroov fien s on eac si i th n e ownii eft n fe if; n ausin the lips at the eother sides -of 1therings ,1 I I; and I I 2 to form close fitting seals with the respective:fiangesrfii and 6 so; thatgthe-wrnetal ring 9- ;wil1 he; protectedpfrom 5; mo stu a e-Wellie mmense e fl id-seemi c d-0 12mm!i jur s sub tan E e'l :oi' t e rin 9 .-.=-w 1 .ithu b in n t l rfii fi l "and ale pro i0 n wi11be1 fqr be e theseotions .of t .oasv nehe theapre sure a Th cas h th -e ern ;:downwardlyatap r n p rt on hi h. fit -onto, the seat} and which has the. countersunk, annular asealarings: l4 therein to form ,avfluid-tight seal "swithiithegseatt2. The lower end ofrthetpressure ."head, cake. is inwardly thickened to qcloselyasuri; \roundxthe inner pipe; ;I 5;. and": .thus'. forming .the

: inside, annular, upwardly r; facing shoulder I 6 whereoniithere is supportedaniexpansible sleeve 40 i'Lwhi'oh-surrounds the inner pipe andwhichis preferably formed-0f rubber.

vs Suitably-anchored to the lower end of the-cage .413 "therei-isa seal ring- IS, formed of-- resilient -material, such. as rubber; which-surroundsthe -inner pipe and 'which fits closely within'the casing -head: and also fits=close1y around 'the inner I pipe I5. F The lower end of-this-seal ring I ar -is formed with'the annular lip I9; which fits closely against the casing headwall and the annular lipfi, which 1'50; fits closely around the inner pipe. The parts I 3,

"I 4, "I 1 and I8 constitute the pressure head, as --herein--referred=to.

Fitted-within the upper section 5 of the casing i head there is a SliD bOWl- Z I having an inside, downwardly tapering seat 22, tc receive the ;;'l?he, numeral;- I35 designates the metal eage 0f 3 wedge-shaped slips 23. A plurality of these slips, preferably three, will be provided and their inner surfaces are toothed to engage and support the inner pipe l5.

The lower end of the slip bowl 2|, is reduced in external diameter to fit into the upper end of the cage I3 and against the upper end of the seal ring [1.

The reduced lower end of the slip bowl has an external, annular groove 24, therearound and screwed through the upper end of the cage l3 are a number of keys as 25, shown in Figure 3, whose inner ends project into said groove to prevent the detachment of the bowl from the cage.

The slips 23 may be retained in the bowl, and in engagement with the inner pipe, by means of a ring nut 26 screwed into the upper end of the bowl and in abutting relation with the upper ends of said slips. For convenience in assembly the rings nut may be made of two half round sections.

The numeral 21 designates an external, annular downwardly and outwardly tapering face on the upper end of the cage l3 and the numeral 28 designates an external, annular outwardly and downwardly tapering face on the bowl 2!. Screwed radially through the flange 4 are the lock down bolts 29 and screwed radially through the flange 6 are the lock down bolts 30. These bolts 29 and 30 are surrounded by the respective stufling boxes 3| and 32 to prevent leakage past them. The inner ends of the bolts 29, 30 are conical in form and adapted to bear against the respective faces 21, 28.

The upper end of the head section 5 has an internal, annular groove 32 therearound to receive the annular packing ring 33 which surrounds the upper end of the slip bowl. Radiating from the groove 32 are the bores 34 to contain reserve supplies of packing 35. Threaded into the upper end of the head section 5 are the radial plungers l- 36 which are surrounded by stufling boxes 31 and and whose inner ends abut the corresponding reserve supplies 35.

It is to be understood that a conventional type of blowout preventer will be mounted on the upper end of the casing head and the inner pipe will be run through it, in completing the well. When the string of inner pipe has been run the pressure head and slip bowl will be passed over the upper end of the inner pipe into the casing head.

This will be done before the slips 23 and the ring nut 26 are assembled in the slip bowl. While the string is being run the lock down bolts 29 and 38 and the plungers 36 will be retracted outwardly. When the cage l3 has seated on the seat 2 the lock down bolts 29 may be then screwed inwardly into engagement with the face 21 to lock the cage securely in place and the lock down bolts 30 may then be screwed inwardly into engagement with the face 28 to force the slip bowl 21 downwardly against the packing sleeve I! to expand it. Escape of well fluid under pressure between the inner pipe and the casing head will thus be prevented. The well may then be washed by forcing clean fluid down through the inner pipe l5 and during this washing process the inner pipe may be elevated and lowered if desired.

The conventional blowout preventer, above referred to, may be removed from the casing head either before or after the washing process. When the slip bowl has been secured in place the plunger 36 may be screwed inwardly causing flow of the reserve supplies of packing material 34 into the groove 32 thus causing the packing 33, surrounding the slip bowl, to form a fluid tight seal between the slip bowl and the casing head. The inner pipe l5 may then be adjusted to its final location and the slips 23 then inserted into place and the ring nut 26 screwed into the upper end of the slip bowl to force the slips into secure engagement with the inner pipe so as to thereafter support said inner pipe in place. Should a leakage develop past the packing I4 the lock down bolts 29 may be screwed further inwardly to force the cage l3 further downwardly to stop the leakage and the bolts 39 may be screwed further inwardly to force the slip bowl downwardly against the packing sleeve I! to further expand it. The plungers 36 may also be screwed inwardly,

from time to time, to tighten up on the packing ring 33.

The numeral 38 designates a radial duct leading inwardly through the flange 4 and the numeral 39 designates a radial duct leading inwardly through the flange 6. These ducts terminate in the respective grooves 1 and 8, as shown in Figure 1. Their outer ends are threaded for the connection of conventional pressure gauges 40 thereto. Only one of said gauges is shown in Figure 1. The ducts 38 and 39 will be circumferentlally offset to give room for the two gauges. When the flanges 4 and 6 have been clamped together by the bolts I 8 the seal may be tested by removing the closure cap 4| from the gauges and applying fluid pressure to the seal throughthe corresponding duct. When the pressure is applied the gauge valve should be opened by turning the valve stem 42 in an appropriate direction. The amount of pressure applied will be indicated by the gauge. The gauge valve may then be closed to entrap the pressure in the corresponding duct and the cap 41 may then be replaced and the valve gauge opened so that the entrapped pressure will be indicated by the gauge. These gauges are part of the permanent installation and by inspecting them from time to time it can be readily ascertained whether or not the seal between the flanges 4 and 6 is leaking. If it is the nuts on the bolts I0 may be tightened up until the.

leakage is stopped.

The drawings and description are illustrative merely while the broad principle of the invention will be defined by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a well head having adjacent sections formed with registering grooves, a hard metal seal ring in the grooves and a soft metal, annular, gasket adjacent the seal ring and clamped between said sections with its margin, adjacent said ring, having lip-like, annular extensionswhich extend into both grooves.

2. In well equipment having adjacent sections formed with plane opposing faces which are provided with registering grooves, a hard metal seal ring seated in said grooves, an annular soft metal gasket between said faces adjacent the seal ring and. whose margins, adjacent the seal ring and remote from the seal ring, are thicker than the intermediate portion of the gasket, said gasket being clamped between said faces and the thickened portion of the seal ring adjacent the gasket forming an annular lip which projects into the grooves on the adjacent side of the seal ring and the thickened margin of the gasket remote from the seal ring formin fluid tight seals with said faces.

ARTHUR J. PENICK.

(References on following page) 6 REFERENCES CITED Number Name Date The following references are of record in the g i z g 33 file of this patent: enc e a e 19 2,293,012 Barker Aug. 11, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 2,306,102 Penick et a1 Dec. 22, 1942 Number Name Date 2,313,169 Penick et a1 Mar. 9, 1943 2,337,221 Allen Dec. 12, 1943 368,189 Carter Aug. 16, 1887 2,350,867 Bean et a1 June 6, 1944 695,174 Roller Mar. 11, 1902 2 400 254 P k 4 9 6 2,103,586 Kitchel et a1 Dec. 28, 1937 emc May 1 1 4 

